Combination comb-brush



Feb. 8, 1955 B. REsNlcK 2,701,572

COMBINATION COMB -BRUSH Filed Feb. 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l United States Patent O COMBINATION CoMB-BRUSH Benjamn Resnick, Bronx, N. Y.

Application February 19, 1951, serial No. 211,708

2 Claims. (ci. 132-120) This invention relates generally to combination combbrushes, and more particularly to a comb-brush of an improved type presenting a number of novel and highly useful structural features.

It is known to construct combination comb-brushes in which there is a comb element flanked by two brush elements which are removable for cleaning purposes. It is among the objects of the present invention to provide structure whereby the brush elements may be quickly and conveniently removed and replaced when desired but wherein the accidental release of the brush elements during use is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of brush control element which affords several advantages, including a reduction in the number of bristles in the brush elements but with an increased effectiveness of operation; easier cleaning; superior hair treating elect.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of structure by means of which the bristles of the conventional spiral bristle brush are deflected to operative positions so that al1 of the bristles may be utilized in the brushing action normally employed.

A further object of the invention herein lies in the provision of structure whereby a variety of bristle brushes may be mounted with different resultant brushing eifects.

A further feature of the invention lies in the fact that certain of the bristles comprising the spiral bristle brush elements employedare used to reinforce the stiffness of other bristles located adjacent thereto.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will become more clearly apparent during the course of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in theappended claims.

On the drawing, to which reference will be made in the disclosure, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the first embodiment as seen from the left hand portion of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded view in perspective of the irst embodiment partly broken away to show detail.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 4-4 on Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 5--5 on Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the removal of one of the brush elements from engagement with a clip element, both elements comprising parts of the device.

Figure 7 is a view in perspective, corresponding generally to Figure 1 but showing a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional View as seen from the plane 8-8 on Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View as seen from the plane 9-9 on Figure 7, with the brush elements removed.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10 includes broadly: a handle element 12, a comb element 14, a pair of brush element support units 16 and 18, and a pair of brush elements 20 and 22.

The handle and comb elements 12 and 14, respectively, are preferably formed integrally from suitable material 2,701,572 Patented Feb. 8,y 1955 ICC such as hard rubber, Celluloid, or a suitably stii synthetic resin. As will appear as the description proceeds, the material of which the handle and comb elements are formed may be flexible, since the units 16 and 18 have a stiffening effect. The handle element 12 may be of any desired configuration, as for example that shown on Figures 1 and 3 in which there is provided an indented portion 24 to facilitate the grasping of the device when in use.

The comb element 14 includes a main body portion 26 in which there are disposed a suitable number of orifices 28 and 30 to permit the assembly of the device by rivet means 50 and 52 or other suitable fastening means. Extending laterally from each end of the main body portion 26 are a pair of reinforcing members 32 and 33 which serve to protect the relatively fragile comb teeth 34 from damage due to accidentally dropping the device, or otherwise.

The brush element support units 16 and 18 are substantially identical except that they are positioned so that they may be considered a left hand unit 16 and a right hand unit 18.

The units 16 and 18 are preferably formed from a metallic stamping of relatively thin stock. They include planar mounting members 38 and 39, and pairs of clip elements 40, 41 and 42, 43.

The mounting members 38 and 39 contact the outer surfaces of the comb element 14, and are provided with orifices 46, 47 and 48, 49 which correspond in position to the orifices 28 and 30 lin the comb element'14 topermit the orifices to be aligned when the device is assembled. As may be seen on Figures 2 and 4 the units 16 and 18 are mounted on opposite sides of the comb element 14 and a single pair of rivets 50 and 52 maintains the entire units 16 and 18 in assembled position.

The clip members 40-43 inclusive each have a pair of end portions 54-57 inclusive, lateral retaining portions 58-61 inclusive, and horizontal retaining portions 62-65 inclusive, respectively. The portions 62-65 are spaced from the mounting members 38 and 39 by indentations 66-69 inclusive which form entrances to the pockets 88 to 91 thus formed.

The brush control elements 44 and 45 are bounded by pairs of end edges '70-73, inner fold edges 74 and 75, at which points they are connected to the mounting members 38 and 39; `and Aouter edges 76 and 77. The brush control` elements present convex cylindrical surfaces '78 and 79 to the brush elements 20 and 22 and are disposed at a substantial angle with respect to the plane of the comb element 14. The control elements 44 and 45 act to position and support the individual bristles against collapse comprising the elements 29 and 22.

The brush elements 20 and 22 are substantially identical, each including a plurality of bristles 80 and 81 which are maintained in position by the twisting of pairs of wire binding members 82 and 83 in a well known manner. Each of the brush elements includes a pair of terminal portions 84-85, and 86-87 which are engageable within the above mentioned pockets 88-91 upon assembly of the device.

When completely assembled and ready for use, the device has the appearance shown on Figure l, wherein the brush elements 20 and 22 have been positioned so that the terminal portions 84-87 are disposed within the pockets 88-91, respectively. During this engagement all of the bristles are urged into a more compact cross section (see Figures 2 and 5) by the abutment of bristles against the teeth 34 and against each other and by the action of the surfaces 78-79 of the control elements 44-45. Since these bristles emanate radially from the points of engagement with the wire binding members 82-83 over a complete 360 sector, it follows that the uppermost bristles shown on Figures 2 and 5 will be appreciably shortened in effective length when compared with the centermost bristles. These shortened bristles are positioned and supported against collapse near their free ends by the control elements 44-45 so that they are in effect stiffer than the more centrally downwardly disposed bristles. It has been found that this eiiect produces a maximum curling effect upon the hair of the user, and

in the event that the user only partially rotates the brush during use.

Thus it may be seen that the brush control elements 44--45 partially rotate certain of the bristles 80--81 to increase the concentration of the bristles nearer the teeth 34 of the comb element 14, as contrasted with prior art constructions in which bristles, uncontrolled, project radially from their twisted wire cores in direction almost 180 away, with respect to the comb teeth. This construction enables the use of a lesser amount of bristles for a superior brushing effect, and a consequent reduction in cost. Because the bristles are ccmpacted during use for brushing and combing, when the brush elements 22 and 23 are removed for cleaning the bristles separate from each other (particularly those which were shifted in position while the brush elements were remounted) so that cleaning and removal of hair vfrom the bristles is easier.

With continued use the bristle elements 2t) and 22 will lose some of their effectiveness owing to the accumulation of foreign material and wear. They may be re moved to be replaced with others in the relatively simple manner shown on Figure 6, The terminal portions Srl-S7 are pushed inwardly toward the comb element of the device until alignment with the indentations 66-69 is reached, after which the same may be pulled down through the indentations to complete the disengagement. The replacement bristle elements are installed in a similar manner, by a reversal of this procedure, care being taken to guide the bristles against the mounting members 38 and 39 and the control elements Aift- 45. lt is to be noted that the bristle elements are maintained in position solely by the resilient reaction of the bristles Stb-81 against the surfaces 78--79 and the surfaces of the comb element 14.

As the comb and brush are brought through the hair the device 10 is axially rotated. This results in considerable pressure being brought to bear on the brush elements and 22. Stress is transmitted to the cores of the brush elements, said cores being formed by the twisted wire pairs 82 and 83. In prior art constructions these cores could bow and snap out of engagement with the pockets which carry them. lIn the present improved construction the control elements 44 and 4S prevent undue bowing and thus permit the use of thinner or lighter cores in the brush elements, thereby reducing weight and cost.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 7 to 10 inclusive, for the purpose of avoiding needless repetition certain of the parts corresponding to the tirst embodiment are given the same reference characters with the prefix 1.

The second embodiment of the invention diifers from the first embodiment principally in the fact that the entire device with the exception of the brush elements and 122 is composed of a single piece of material.

Thus the entire device with the exception of the brush elements may be composed of a synthetic resin casting, or a die casting preferably of a light metal or metal alloy.

VThe second embodiment also differs from the first embodiment in that the brush element support units have undersurfaces 178 and 179 which are substantially planar, rather than cylindrical, and which extend at substantially right angles to the plane of the comb element.

l wish it to be understood'that I do not consider the invention limited to the exact details of structure shown and set forth in this specification and the accompanying drawings, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilleld in the art to which the present invention pertains.

c aim:

l. A combination comb-brush comprising: a comb element having teeth arranged substantially in a plane; a brush element having twisted wires and bristles radially arranged with respect to said wires; said comb element having means disposed above said teeth for supporting said brush element substantially at the end portions thereof; a brush control element connected to said comb element also above said teeth, and including a substantially planar surface disposed at substantially a right angle with respect to the plane of said teeth; said brush element being supported by said support means in such manner that the twisted wires are positioned near the line of interconnection of the planes of the teeth of said comb element and said brush control element; said brush control element, upon engagement of said brush element with said brush supporting means contacting and thereby displacing a portion of said bristles angularly downward with respect to the axis of said twisted wires toward the plane of said comb teeth.

2. A device according to claim l in which the brush element is maintained in engagement with said brush supporting means by the resiliency of the displaced radially arranged bristles acting against said brush control element and said comb element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 792,013 Flemming June 13, 1905 2,194,484 Segal Mar. 26, 1940 2,207,427 Behr July 9, 1940 2,226,318 Nelson Dec. 24, 1940 2,531,239 Twitty Nov. 2l, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 190,195 Great Britain Dec. 21, 1922 

